Automatic air-valve car-coupling.



G. E. MUTH. AUTOMATIC AIR VALVE GAB. COUPLING. APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 28, 1912.

1,078,869, Patented Nov. 18,1913.

2 $HEETS-'SHEET 1 I g4 w m info-Lump G. E. MUTH.

AUTOMATIC AIR VALVE CAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILBT) MAR. 28, 1912 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. MUTH, OF MANSFIELD. OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK ALBERT VOEGELE, 0F

' MANSFIELD, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC AIR-VALVE CAR-tlOUPLING.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. MUTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Air- Valve Car-Couplers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic air valve car couplers; and the object of the same is to improve devices of this character.

To this end the present invention consists of certain noi el features of construction, and the combination nd arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a plan view of a pair of couplers embodying my invention and showing the same in operative engagement: Fig. 2 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of one of my improved coupling heads showing the pipe coupling members applied thereto, one of said members being shown in.plan view; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the coupling head showing more particularly the construction of the latch or locking mechanism for the pivoted jaw, and the means whereby said latch is operated. Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view through two of the opposing pipe coupling members showing the same in operative engagement, and the valves thereof in open position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 and 1 denote my improved couplers which are of the J anne'y type having heads 2 provided with the usual pivoted coupling jaw or knuckle 3 which when the heads are brought together are automatically swung into operative engagement for coupling the heads together. The pivoted jaws or knuckles 3 are locked in operative position for coupling the heads 2 together by latches 4, one of which is pivotally mounted in each of the hollow heads of the coupler on a pivot bolt 5 as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing. The outer lower corner of the latches 4 are recessed 0r beveled and the end of theinner arms 6 of the jaws or knuckles Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 23, 1912.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

Serial No. 686,917.

are beveled to facilitate the engagement thereof with the latches 4 whereby the latter are lifted to permit the arm Got the knuckles or jaws to pass beneath the latches, which after the jaws pass are forced downwardly into engagement with the ends of the arms (3 as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

The latches l are provided with operating rods 7 which are slidably mounted in apertures 8 in the upper sides of the coupling heads and which are pivotally connected at their inner ends to short links or connecting plates 9 which in turn are pivotally secured to apertured ears or lugs 10 on the latches -l as shown. On the lower portion of the rods 7 between the links 9 and the inner sides of the top of the coupler heads are arranged roiled springs 11. the pressure of which is exerted to swing the latches downwardly and to hold the same in operative engagement with the inner ends of the arm of the jaws whereby the latter are locked in coupled position. The upper ends of the rods 7 are preferably provided with heads 12. Any suitable means may be employed for lifting the latches 4 out of engagement with the inner ends of the arms 6 of the coupling jaws. said means being here shown in the form of short levers 13 which are pivoted between pairs of ears or lugs 14 on the upper sides of the coupling heads.said levers having forked inner ends 15 which are engaged with the upper ends of the latch operating rods 7 beneath the heads thereof whereby when the outer ends of the levers are depressed, said pins will be drawn upwardly against the pressure of the springs 11 thereby lifting or swinging the latches 4 upwardly out of engagement with the ends of the arms 6 of the coupling jaws, thus permitting said jaws to be swung outwardly to inoperative or uncoupled positions as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawing. When the levers 13 are released the springs 11 on the rods 7 will retract the latter and again swing the latches downwardly into position to be engaged by the arms 6 of the coupling jaws when the latter are again swung inwardly to operative positions. The jaws 3 are preferably swung outwardly to inoperative positions when-the latches 4 are disengaged therefrom by means of flat springs 16 arranged in the coupling heads and having an operative engagement with recesses 17 on the adjacent edge of the coupling jaws as shown.

The coupling heads 2 are provided with shanks 18 comprising parallel plates formed integral with the outer ends of the heads and having at their inner ends an integral sleeve 19.. The sleeves 19 of the shanks 18 are slidably engaged with cylindrical draw bars 20, the outer ends of which are reduced and have formed thereon eyes 21 which are pivotally connected with any suitable part of the car. On the draw bars 20 and spaced a suitable distance from the outer ends of the sleeves 19 are stop collars 22 between which and the outer end of the sleeves are arranged coiled springs 23. The inner ends of the draw bars 20 are reduced and thread ed to receive flanged cap nuts 24 which are locked into engagement with the threaded end of the draw bars by pins 25 arranged therethrough and through the reduced threaded ends of the bars as shown. The flanges of the nuts 24 project beyond the sides of the draw bars and form stops between which and the inner ends of the sleeve 19 are arranged coiled springs 26. The springs 23 and 26 provide a yielding connection between the shanks of the coupling heads and the draw bars and form cushions or buffers to resist the shocks which would otherwise occur when the coupling heads are brought together or the *ars coupled there by, suddenly started. The pivotal connection between the outer ends of the draw bars 20 by means of the eyes 21 and the parts to which they are attached enables the coupling rods to be brought together in coupled positions and to be uncoupled when the cars are on a curve, and positively prevents the coupling heads from becoming uncoupled or separated when the cars are passing around curves.

Secured to the opposite sides of the coupling heads :3 are my improved pipe co pling members 27 and 28. Each of the merit bers 27 comprises a casing 29 having on one side at about its midlength a threaded stud 30 which is adapted to be screwed into a threaded socket 31 in the adjacent side of the coupllng head whereby said casing is astened to the coupling head and permitted to turn slightly in a vertical plane. The casings 29 of the pipe coupling members have reduced extcriorly threaded rear ends 32 in which are formed tubular valve seats 33 the extremities of which are flared outwardly to form supplemental valve seats 34. Adapted to be screwed onto the reduced threaded ends 32 of the casings 29 are pipe couplings 35 having squared wrench engaging surfaces and reduced annularly grooved outer ends 37 with which are adapted to be engaged the ends of the flexible pipes 38 which may be air or other fluid conducting pipes or which may be employed for any desired purpose.

.Slidably engaged with the casings 27 are tapered valve members 39 the outer ends of which are in the form of sockets 40 having inwardly tapered or inclined inner walls 41 at the inner ends of which are formed circular recesses 42. The inner ends of the valve members 39 are reduced to form tubnlar stems or shanks 43 which are slidably engaged with the tubular valve seats in the reduced inner ends of the casings. The outer ends ofthe tubular stems or shanks 43 form 'alves which are adapted to engage the tubular valve seats 33 in the reduced ends 3-2 of the casings '27 and in said ends of the stems 43 are formed series of fluid ports or passages 44 which. when the valve member 39 is in a projected or released position are engaged with the walls of the tubular valve 5 seats and are thereby closed to prevent the passage of tluid through the valve members The outer ends of the stems or shanks 43 are internally ilUfiltlttl and have therein 0 tapered sockets to receive cone shaped supplemental valves 4-?) which are provided with threaded stems adapted to be screwtd into the intcriorly threaded ends of the tubular shanks 43 as shown. valves 45 are of greater diameter than and project beyond the sides of the shanks, said projecting ends of the valves 45 being adapted to engage the tapered valve seats 34 in the reduced ends at the casings 29 thereby 10 forming an additional or supplemental closure for the tubular shanks l3 of the valve member. In the inner portions of the valve casings 25) of the pipe couplings 27 are arranged coiled springs lti the ends of which 10 engage the shoulders formed by the reduced shanks of the valve member The pressure of the springs 46 is exerted to force the valve members 3f) outwardly when in released or uncoupled position. thereby closing the valves on the inner ends of the tubular shanks 43.

The pipe coupling members 28 comprise casings 47 which are constructed in the same manner as the casings Q9 of the coupling 5 with and are constructed in the same manner as the pipe couplings 35 of the casings 29. The reduced ends 49 of the casings are provided with supplemental valve seats :32 which correspond with the supplemental valve seats 34 in the ends of the casings 29.

The outer ends of the 5 The casings 47 have 120 Slidably mounted in the casings 47 are valve members 53 comprising heads 54 having reduced conical outer ends .35 and reduced cylindrical extensions 56 which when said valve members are brought together are adapted to respectively engage the tapered sockets 41 and the cylindrical recesses 42 in the ends of the opposing valve members as is clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. In the outer ends of the sockets 41 are arranged annular packing rings 57 whereby a fluid tight joint or connection is formed between the engaging parts of said head and socket valve members. The valve members 53 are provided with reduced tubular shanks 58 the inner ends of which form valves and have therein series of fluid passages 59 which are closed by the engagement of the end of the shank with the tubular valve seat in the reduced end of the casing 47 when the valve member 53 is in a released or inoperative position. The outer ends of the shanks 58 are internally threaded to receive the threaded stems 60 of cone shaped supplemental valves 61 adapted to be engaged with the tapered valve seats 52 in the reduced ends of the casings 47 whereby said valves 61 serve as an additional means for closing the tubular valve member 53. The valve members 53 are provided with coiled projecting springs 62 which are arranged in the inner portions of the casings 47, said springs having one end engaged with the shoulders formed by the reduced shanks 58 of the valve member whereby the pressure of the springs is exerted to force the valve members 53 outwardly and to hold the heads p54: of the same in operative engagement with the sockets of the opposing valve members By providing the sockets 40 with tapered walls the cylindrical extensions 56 and the conical shaped ends of the heads 54 will be guided and directed when said sockets and heads are brought together, thus causing said parts to center themselves and to form a perfect engagement or connection.

The pivotal connection of the members 27 and 28 with the adjacent sides of the coupler heads permits said members to swing up and down in a vertical plane, so that the head and sockets thereof may be readily engaged even though the members on one coupling head may be slightly out of horizontal alinement with the members on the other coupling head. By disposing the two sockets directly opposite to or in alinement with each other on opposite sides of the car coupler head, the members 27, 28 will swing around a common center. By employing screw threaded studs engaging these sockets, either member may be readily disengaged and removed as for inspection and repair, by simply detaching the hose coupling from its rear end and giving it several revolutions to the left around its pivotal support. This I consider an important feature of the present invention. The pivotal connection of the outer ends of the draw bars 20 with the parts to which they are connected will allow the couplers to be brought into perfect longitudinal alinement aswill be readily understood.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In a car coupler, the combination with the coupling heads having alined threaded sockets in'their opposite sides; of coupling members comprising casings each having on one side a threaded stud adapted to be screwed into one of said sockets whereby the casing is pivotally connected at its midlength to the head to turn in a vertical.

plane, the casing being externally threaded at its rear end and having a bore whose rear extremity is flared to form a valve seat, a.

pipe couplin inclosing said rear extremity and interna ly threaded to engage the threads above mentioned, a valve member having a tubular shank slidably engaging the bore of said casing, the walls ofsaid shank being provided with lateral ports near its rear end and internally threaded at its rear extremity, and a cone-shaped valve adapted to engage said seat and havin a threaded stem engaging the threads within said shank.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE E. MUTH.

Witnesses HOWARD S. TWITCHELL, GEORGE Wrmomno.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

